Transcript – ABC Radio – 6 December 2012

ABC Radio

PM with Mark Colvin and Samantha Hawley

6 December 2012

6.15pm

E & OE

MARK COLVIN:

As we just heard the Federal Opposition has said it will honour the deal. Its disabilities spokesman, Mitch Fifield spoke to Samantha Hawley.

 

MITCH FIFIELD:

The Federal Opposition have supported each milestone along the road to an NDIS and we support today’s agreement.

 

SAMANTHA HAWLEY:

Right so you will fully fund that agreement if you’re elected at the next election?

 

MITCH FIFIELD:

Well the blueprint of the Productivity Commission for funding was always that the Commonwealth meet the difference between existing federal and state disability spending and the cost of an NDIS. That’s the agreement which New South Wales secured with the Commonwealth and that’s the agreement that the Federal Opposition supports.

 

SAMANTHA HAWLEY:

So that’s a yes?

 

MITCH FIFIELD:

Yes.

 

SAMANTHA HAWLEY:

Okay because earlier in the week, Joe Hockey obviously created some confusion here when he said that under us you will get a full NDIS when we can afford it and at the moment Australia cannot afford it. Was he wrong when he said that?

MITCH FIFIELD:

No. Joe was making the point that I’ve made, that Tony Abbott has made, which is that you need the budget to be in good repair to fully implement the NDIS. We don’t see an NDIS as the enemy of a surplus and we don’t see a surplus as the enemy of an NDIS. You can work towards both at the same time. And a budget surplus is the ultimate guarantee that an NDIS will be sustainable.

 

SAMANTHA HAWLEY:

Right but you can give me a 100 per cent guarantee that a Coalition government, if elected next year, will fully fund the NDIS and honour any agreement that is made?

 

MITCH FIFIELD:

Look we will certainly honour agreements which are made. As I say, we’ve supported each milestone along the way to an NDIS to date. If this Government manages well and if this Government has a successful launch in the five jurisdictions, then there’s no reason why the Productivity Commission target date shouldn’t be met.But what we don’t know is what we’re going to inherit from the current Government. Hopefully, they’ll have provided the full and proper provision and the launch sites will go smoothly. I certainly hope they do.

 

SAMANTHA HAWLEY:

Oh okay but you do seem to be introducing a little bit of doubt in there which is why I’m just trying to make it very clear and so the position is absolutely clear that the NDIS will go ahead as planned in 2018 if you’re elected next year? I think people with disabilities really need to know that.

 

MITCH FIFIELD:

Well, today’s agreement with New South Wales has provision for the Productivity Commission to do a review in 2017 as to how the New South Wales launch site has gone. I think that’s a good idea. But as I say, we don’t know what our starting point will be. We don’t know what we’re going to inherit from the current Government. Hopefully, they’ll have done a good job and they’ll have provided the funding certainty. But we don’t know what we’re going to inherit.

 

SAMANTHA HAWLEY:

Right so if they do not provide funding certainty, then neither can you?

 

MITCH FIFIELD:

Well obviously if the current Government under-fund the NDIS, that will have an impact on the implementation timetable for whoever wins the next government. So I hope they do provide the funding certainty. And I hope the launch sites are successful.

 

SAMANTHA HAWLEY:

So you wouldn’t, if it was under-funded, could you commit then a Coalition government to boosting the funding to make sure it is funded properly?

 

MITCH FIFIELD:

Well the next election isn’t due for eight or nine months. And we don’t know if the current Government will make a hash of the roll-out of the NDIS between now and then.

 

MARK COLVIN:

The Opposition’s disabilities spokesman, Mitch Fifield, speaking to Samantha Hawley.